Tuesday Voice Series | Master Class: François Le Roux, baritone & Jeff Cohen, pianist

The Tuesday Noon Series is made possible in part by a generous gift from Dianne W. Henderson. 
This concert in particular is also made possible in part by the France-Canada Cultural Exchanges in Music and Art History program, supported by the Fondation DRG.

The France - Canada Academy of Vocal Arts (FCAVA) at the University of Toronto Presents:

France-Canada Distinguished Visitors in Music | Master Class: François Le Roux, baritone & Jeff Cohen, pianist 

Featuring visiting piano-vocal duos from the Académie Francis Poulenc (France), and duos from U of T’s Faculty of Music.

Program

Poèmes intimes (Louis Émié)

André Jolivet (1905-1974)

3. Nous baignons dans une eau tranquille…

Ian Gillis, baritone; Dakota Scott-Digout, piano

Puisque l’aube grandit (La bonne chanson) (Paul Verlaine)

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)

Victoria Chan, soprano; Dakota Scott-Digout, piano

Ballade de Villon à s’amye (Trois ballades de François Villon)

Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Félix Merle, baritone; Flore-Elise Capelier, piano

Calligrammes (Guillaume Apollinaire)

Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)

5. La grâce exilée

6. Aussi bien les cigales

7. Voyage 

William Salinas-Crosby, tenor; Minira Najafzade, piano

Barque d'or  (Charles Van Lerberghe)

Henri Dutilleux (1916-2013)  

Hanne Marit Mordal Iversen, soprano; Dakota Scott-Digout, piano

Don Quichotte à Dulcinée (Paul Morand)

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

2. Chanson épique 

3. Chanson à boire 

Pierre-Yves Cras, bass-baritone; Etienne Caron, piano

Le rossignol (Théodore de Banville)

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)

Ana Sofia Castro Barrios, soprano; Dakota Scott-Digout, piano

Alternate:

Ma vie a son secret (Félix Arvers) 

Georges Bizet (1838-1875)

Chloé Dionne, soprano; Dakota Scott-Digout, piano

BIOGRAPHIES

François Le Roux distinguished himself in several iconic roles, notably that of Pelléas, which he performed over a hundred times worldwide. His portrayal in this role was immortalized under the baton of Claudio Abbado. He also took on other characters, such as Golaud, in Debussy’s work.

Drawn to 20th-century opera, François Le Roux participated in world premieres and engaged in contemporary productions, demonstrating his interest in innovation and diversification of the lyrical repertoire.

In addition to his performance activities, François Le Roux is also a renowned teacher. He held positions as a voice professor at the CNSMD de Paris and the École Normale de Musique Alfred Cortot. He also founded and directed the Francis Poulenc Academy, dedicated to the interpretation of French melody.

As an author, François Le Roux has published several works, including « Le Chant intime: De l’interprétation de la mélodie française, » co-written with Romain Raynaldy. His academic work explores the subtleties of interpretation and style in French lyrical music.

His impressive discography includes critically acclaimed recordings, including complete collections of melodies by Poulenc, Debussy, and Dutilleux. His collaborations with renowned pianists have also enriched the musical landscape.

Jeff Cohen has been honored with numerous awards, including the title of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters (France). These distinctions testify to his significant impact on the world of opera and classical music.

He has recorded several albums, including the complete works of R. Hahn, Lalo, Saint-Saëns, Gounod, Godard with T. Christoyannis with the Palazetto Bru-Zane; a live recital at La Scala with A.Gheorghiu; melodies by Duparc, Fauré, Hahn, Gounod, Lœffler with F.LeRoux; lieder by Mozart on the pianoforte with V. Dietschy; the works of Vieuxtemps and sonatas by Mendelssohn and Hummel for viola and piano with P.Lénert; cabaret songs by K.Weill with U.Lemper; songs by Korngold with I.Georges; fado songs with Luisa Cruz…

He works as a répétiteur on opera recordings with conductors such as Bertrand de Billy, Mark Elder, Christopher Hogwood, John Nelson, Michel Plasson, and George Solti.

He has been a répétiteur at the Opéra de la Monnaie in Brussels, a professor at the Ecole d’Art Lyrique of the Opéra de Paris, musical director at the Théâtre du Châtelet, and advisor at the Bibliothèque nationale de France for a series of concerts on French melody.

Jeff Cohen conducted the orchestra for « The Threepenny Opera » staged by G. Strehler at the Théâtre du Châtelet, assisted M.-W. Chung for « Otello » at the Opéra de la Bastille, collaborated with P. Chéreau for « Hamlet » and « Lucio Silla ». He performed in « Impressions of Pelléas » by P. Brook and with F. Ardant in « Masterclass », directed by R. Polanski. He was the musical director for « Street Scene » by K. Weill with the Atelier Lyrique of the Opéra de la Bastille. He toured with choreographer B. Li in her show « The Garden of Delights ».

Jeff Cohen studied piano with Leon Fleisher, Reine Gianoli, and Peter Feuchtwanger. He currently resides in Paris, where he teaches Lied and melody at the Conservatoire National.

He composes music for stage and film (N. Lvovsky, C. Klapisch, C. Serreau among others). He conceived and hosted a children’s program, « Jeff d’orchestre », on French television.